Found here. Our comments in bold.
The five points of Calvinism, TULIP, are as follows:
They are particularly proud of the sovereignty of God, that is, that God chose the elect, and those people are pre-ordained to be saved. Because we are depraved, there is nothing at all that would allow us to participate in our salvation. We do not yield to God and agree with Him that We need salvation. No, our salvation is already chosen for us. God is sovereign and unconditionally elected us, so we don't have a choice because of irresistible grace. Only the elect are saved, because the atonement only covers the elect. We can't fall away if we're among the elect, because once we are saved we are always saved.
What strikes us about Calvinism is how much it doesn't matter. Yes, Calvinism doesn't matter. Practically speaking, none of the points have any bearing on our day-to-day faith.
Why? Imagine that TULIP had never proposed as a doctrine. Nothing of them were ever offered to you for consideration. You were unaware of these principles. So, would TULIP change the fact that you need salvation? Would it change your standing before God? If you are saved, would it change the way you lead your life? No. Would you still share your faith, pray for the sick, and be generous with your time and your money? Yes.
None of these principles, even if true, would matter in the least. You would still be lost and in need of a Savior, you would still be called to lead a holy life, you would still be obligated to help the widow and the orphan, you would still be required to study the Word and live a life pleasing to God. TULIP is nothing more than arcane doctrinal hairsplitting, an intellectual exercise used to determine Us vs. Them.
Dr. Sproul's statement is illustrative: We do not believe in order to be born again; we are born again in order that we may believe. Does it matter either way? Nope. The critical operational concept is that we must be born again. Dr. Sproul's statement is a tautology. It is an artificial distinction with absolutely no utility.
And really, the statement causes more questions than it brings light. If indeed we are born again in order that we may believe, then it seems possible to be born again and not believe. It also suggests that we still somehow must participate in our salvation to the extent that we give assent to God's election for us.
The below statement was found elsewhere in connection with this meme:
- Total depravity
- Unconditional election
- Limited atonement
- Irresistible grace
- Perseverance of the saints
They are particularly proud of the sovereignty of God, that is, that God chose the elect, and those people are pre-ordained to be saved. Because we are depraved, there is nothing at all that would allow us to participate in our salvation. We do not yield to God and agree with Him that We need salvation. No, our salvation is already chosen for us. God is sovereign and unconditionally elected us, so we don't have a choice because of irresistible grace. Only the elect are saved, because the atonement only covers the elect. We can't fall away if we're among the elect, because once we are saved we are always saved.
What strikes us about Calvinism is how much it doesn't matter. Yes, Calvinism doesn't matter. Practically speaking, none of the points have any bearing on our day-to-day faith.
Why? Imagine that TULIP had never proposed as a doctrine. Nothing of them were ever offered to you for consideration. You were unaware of these principles. So, would TULIP change the fact that you need salvation? Would it change your standing before God? If you are saved, would it change the way you lead your life? No. Would you still share your faith, pray for the sick, and be generous with your time and your money? Yes.
None of these principles, even if true, would matter in the least. You would still be lost and in need of a Savior, you would still be called to lead a holy life, you would still be obligated to help the widow and the orphan, you would still be required to study the Word and live a life pleasing to God. TULIP is nothing more than arcane doctrinal hairsplitting, an intellectual exercise used to determine Us vs. Them.
Dr. Sproul's statement is illustrative: We do not believe in order to be born again; we are born again in order that we may believe. Does it matter either way? Nope. The critical operational concept is that we must be born again. Dr. Sproul's statement is a tautology. It is an artificial distinction with absolutely no utility.
And really, the statement causes more questions than it brings light. If indeed we are born again in order that we may believe, then it seems possible to be born again and not believe. It also suggests that we still somehow must participate in our salvation to the extent that we give assent to God's election for us.
The below statement was found elsewhere in connection with this meme:
...with regard to the Ordo Salutis [the order of salvation] - if one does not fully comprehend the accurate theological steps and their proper sequence, as laid out in Scripture, that in no way negates the sincerity and validity of their belief and saving Faith at the moment of conversion.This is a defacto concession to our assertion that TULIP doesn't matter. People get saved without this supposedly essential knowledge. Yet somehow is still is of paramount importance to Calvinists:
However, as we mature in Christ; as we grow in our faith, we ought to strive to be sound in doctrine and be able to separate truth from error based on a right understanding of Scripture.What kind of fruit does this "proper understanding" yield? Doctrinal purity. That is, Calvinist doctrinal purity. It serves no other purpose.
They continue:
The proper order is:
- Election
- Predestination
- Calling/Drawing
- Regeneration
- Faith
- Repentance
- Adoption
- Justification
- Sanctification
- Perseverance
- Glorification
refers to a series of conceptual steps within the Christian doctrine of salvation. It has been defined as, "a technical term of Protestant dogmatics to designate the consecutive steps in the work of the Holy Spirit in the appropriation of salvation.""Conceptual steps." "A technical term." That is, a generally esoteric collection of ideas with little practical use.
If we were to devote our time and energy to biblical principles, we would chose those things that bear fruit and are profitable to the Kingdom. Those would be, facilitate the worship of the Most High God, edify the Body, call the sinners to repentance, and minister to the poor and diseased. We would give it a neologism, WEMEL:
- Worship acceptably
- Edification of the saints
- Minister to the hurting
- Evangelize the lost
- Live a life of holiness
For example,
Mt. 22:37:
Mt. 22:37:
Jesus replied: `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’1Co. 14:12:
Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.Lk. 5:32:
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Ja. 1:27:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
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